Gov’t to buy rice grown by local farmers for a reasonable price

By Genalyn Kabiling, Manila Bulletin, Sep 5, 2019

The government is prepared to buy all rice grown by local farmers for a reasonable price, President Duterte said on Wednesday.

The President has urged the National Food Authority and the farmers to reach a “compromise” on the purchase of the local harvest to boost their income and improve their plight amid the impact of the rice tariffication law.

“In a democracy, officials are elected and their duty is to do (what is best) for the greatest good for the greatest number. You have seen people going wild, others hungry because there is no rice. The solution will be for the Secretary of Agriculture to buy all,” Duterte said during a press conference in Malacañang.

Duterte explained that purchasing rice from local farmers could be implemented even it would mean financial losses for the government.

“Magkano ba presyo nila, bilhin natin. Lugi? Lugi talaga [How much is their rice? Let’s buy their harvest even if it will be at a loss to the government It will really be a loss]. Are we wasting money? No. We are not wasting an industry. We are helping an industry,” he added.

The President, however, asked the farmers not to demand an unreasonable price for their harvest, saying Agriculture Secretary William Dar would not agree to such arrangement.

“You cannot demand a price. You arrive at a compromise of how much you’re willing to lose a little bit. Tapatan lang. Basta hindi malugi ‘yung pagod nila. [We’ll match your effort, as long as your efforts are not wasted]. They are compensated,” he said.

“But do not demand a price that is unreasonable because I am sure Secretary Dar would never go into that kind of arrangement,” he added.

Farmers have complained about the decrease in farm gate palay prices over the influx of rice imports in the country. President Duterte recently signed Republic Act (RA) 11203 the Rice Tariffication Act that replaces the rice quota system with tariffs.

The President, however, defended the rice tariffication law that seeks to shore up rice supply in the market. “It is a move that is intended to serve the greater interest of the majority of the people,” he said.

“Ang solusyon diyan bilhin natin. Malugi tayo, lugi tayo. Bakit tayo nagkokolekta ng taxes para malugi, para makatulong,” he added.